Rochester Americans - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres recall prospect Rasmus Asplund from Amerks

BUFFALO – The reeling Sabres, losers of six straight games, recalled center Rasmus Asplund from the Rochester Americans this morning.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Asplund, 21, could make his NHL debut Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center.

The Sabres, having gone 1-5-2 following their scorching 8-1-1 start, need any spark they can get. They’re 0-4-2 in their last six outings.

Asplund, a second-round pick in 2016, 33rd overall, is one of the Sabres’ top ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Curtis Lazar enjoys short trip to Buffalo

BUFFALO – The 70- or so mile drive from Rochester to KeyBank Center sure beats trying to get from Stockton, Calif., to Calgary. Just ask Sabres winger Curtis Lazar.

When the Flames would recall Lazar, 24, from the Heat, their AHL affiliate about 1,300 miles away, he would have to fly out of the San Francisco airport.

Stockton is about 83 miles from that airport.

Lazar enjoyed a much easier trip to Buffalo on ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Zach Bogosian set to practice; Vladimir Sobotka out four to six weeks

BUFFALO – More than six months after undergoing hip surgery, defenseman Zach Bogosian will return to practice today, the Sabres announced this morning.

Bogosian, who’s week-to-week, will be joined by defenseman Marco Scandella, who has missed the last six games with a lower-body injury.

That doesn’t mean the Sabres are healthy.

They announced this morning a lower-body injury will sideline winger Vladimir Sobotka four to six weeks. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov hit Sobotka ... Read the full article

Sabres send Lawrence Pilut back to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres sent defenseman Lawrence Pilut back to the Rochester Americans today.

The Sabres recalled Pilut, 23, last week to serve as a spare defenseman during their two-game trip to Sweden.

He was one of six Swedes on Buffalo’s roster.

Pilut played 33 NHL games as a rookie in 2018-19. He has scored one goal and six points in eight AHL games this season.... Read the full article

Sabres recall Lawrence Pilut before trip to Sweden

The Buffalo Sabres recalled defenseman Lawrence Pilut from the Rochester Americans tonight before they left for their two-game trip to Sweden.

Pilut, 23, is one of six Swedes on the roster. He will likely serve as a spare defenseman during the trip.

The Sabres had seven healthy defenders before Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the New York Islanders.

To make room for Pilut, the Sabres placed defenseman Marco Scandella (lower body) on injured reserve.... Read the full article

Top Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen sent to ECHL

The Rochester Americans assigned Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Buffalo Sabres’ top goalie prospect, to the Cincinnati Cyclones today.

Luukkonen, who hasn’t played since undergoing hip surgery in late April, will likely start one game for the Sabres’ ECHL affiliate this weekend.

The Cyclones play the Brampton Beast on the road Saturday and Sunday.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Luukkonen is expected to become the Amerks’ No. 1 goalie. Veteran Andrew Hammond and youngster Jonas Johansson have split ... Read the full article

Sabres send Will Borgen to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres sent prospect Will Borgen, their extra defenseman the last two games, back to the Rochester Americans this afternoon.

The Sabres also assigned Borgen, 22, to the Amerks on Saturday. He played for the AHL club later that day before they recalled him again Sunday.

Borgen will likely play in Wednesday’s home game against the Providence Bruins.... Read the full article

Sabres notes: John Gilmour seizes early chance after waiting 11 games

BUFFALO – John Gilmour had never waited so long to play a game. After appearing in the Sabres’ preseason finale Sept. 27, the defenseman sat out 11 contests before making his season debut Friday.

So Gilmour, the Sabres’ spare defender, patiently waited 28 days for his opportunity to materialize as the blue line remained healthy.

Gilmour, of course, acknowledged being a healthy scratch can be difficult. But he still reveled in the Sabres’ early-season success.... Read the full article

Sabres lose Marco Scandella to injury as Brandon Montour nears return

BUFFALO – For three or four weeks after Brandon Montour injured his left hand, the Sabres defenseman would dress in his full gear and skate around the ice without a stick.

“You can imagine how frustrating and how tough that was,” Montour said after returning to practice today inside KeyBank Center.

Montour, out since Sept. 17, couldn’t grip a stick at first. But he has graduated to full-contact practices and is officially day-to-day.

“I ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Marco Scandella, Jimmy Vesey out against Red Wings

Injuries will sideline defenseman Marco Scandella and winger Jimmy Vesey tonight against the Detroit Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres announced this afternoon.

Scandella (lower body) and Vesey (upper) were hurt in Thursday’s 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers, the start of a two-game road trip.

The Sabres said the players will be evaluated this weekend in Buffalo.

Defenseman John Gilmour, a healthy scratch the first 11 games this season, and winger Evan Rodrigues... Read the full article